photo by: Lawrence school district

Brian Workman

A new principal has been named to lead the New York Montessori/Elementary School in Lawrence, according to a news release Monday from the school district.

Superintendent Anthony Lewis has selected Brian Workman, Cordley Elementary’s instructional coach, to be the next New York principal, effective July 1, pending board approval.

Workman will succeed Sunny Halsted, who accepted a principal position in Topeka.

“We look forward to Brian continuing to serve as an integral member of our team. His passion for joining our expanding New York Montessori community and his background as an instructional leader, educator, and social worker engaging families in supporting their children’s learning, personal growth, and well-being make him a great fit,” Lewis said in the release.

This is Workman’s second year at Cordley after serving as a fourth grade teacher in 2022-2023. His prior experience includes teaching nine years in Colorado; Cairo, Egypt; and Kansas City, Kansas. He previously worked as a social worker for two years with the Wyandotte Center for Community Behavioral Healthcare in Kansas City.

Workman earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, his master’s from Fort Hays State University, and is working to complete his doctorate in educational leadership through the University of Colorado.

“I am honored to serve as New York’s principal. It is exciting to be able to stay in a role where I get to work with the east Lawrence community and continue to build upon the early successes of the first public Montessori school in Kansas,” Workman said in the release.

New York school served 232 students this year. The district opened New York Montessori in the 2022-2023 school year to high demand, and a waiting list, for enrollment. It plans to expand the Montessori program using a phased approach as funding allows, the release said.

For the 2024-2025 school year, New York school will offer four classrooms of Montessori Children’s House (ages 3, 4 and kindergarten) and four classrooms of Montessori Lower Elementary (grades 1-2), as well as traditional elementary classes for grades 3-5. The program offers priority placement to families from the New York school attendance area and grants transfers on a space-available basis.